If you want to see excited dogs in our house, there are six little words you can say: “Want to go for a ride?”
It’s guaranteed bedlam. They will literally jump up from being dead-to-the-world asleep and start panting and pacing back and forth in front of you. One will run ahead, then dive back to check on the other one—or the person who dared to utter the magic phrase. Sometimes, one of them runs into the other. Occasionally, if you are not moving fast enough, they will start to squeak or bark. They wiggle with enthusiasm and sheer delight.
Today’s agenda included a run to school for our daughter’s morning drop-off, leaving at 8:15. This one is perhaps the most fun for people watching, a skill dogs excel at. We returned home by 9:00, and the two dogs settled into their beds under my desk.
By 11:15, I asked again them about a ride—and they responded with unbridled joy. We returned home by 12:00. They stretched out for naps.
At 3:45, they were already on high alert. Our daughter was gathering her lacrosse stuff; that’s a clear sign to them that ride number three was imminent. I put the windows halfway down for this one, and both of them put their noses into the breeze. We returned by 4:20.
At 5:45, they just assumed that we would have to return to lacrosse practice for pick up. They jumped into their seats yet again, completely thrilled with yet another ride back to the high school.
I don’t like days like this. And yet, this is pretty much the schedule for four out of five days this week–thanks to COVID. The silver lining today has gone to the dogs. (Although, my own silver lining is seeing them so dang happy!)
